JP2995603B2 - Light switch - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical fiber movable mechanical optical switch used for optical communication and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A mechanical optical switch having a structure in which an optical fiber is directly driven to switch an optical path is characterized by a simple structure, low insertion loss, miniaturization, and low driving power. Many types of switch structures have been proposed so far. Among them is an optical switch shown in FIG.

This mechanical optical switch is of the 1 × 2 type, and has a base fixed to a cylindrical tube 7 in a cantilever shape, and a magnetic body 8 having desired magnetic characteristics fixed to a surface near the distal end thereof. Movable bare optical fiber 9 and a hollow solenoid coil 10 provided for reversing the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body.
A pair of permanent magnets 11 for applying a magnetic attractive force to the magnetic body 8 in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and two permanent magnets 11 fixed on a V-shaped groove 5 formed in a flat portion of the half cylinder 3 And a cylindrical sleeve 12 for aligning and holding the cylindrical tube 7 and the half cylinder 3 and fixing the hollow solenoid coil 10 and the permanent magnet 11. Have been.

The operation of this switch is as follows. The movable bare optical fiber 9 is magnetically attracted to one of the pair of permanent magnets 11 according to the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body 8, and the tip is formed in a V-shape formed on a flat portion of the half cylinder 3. Optically coupled to one of the two stationary bare optical fibers 1 on the groove 5. Energize the solenoid coil and set the magnetic material 8
When the magnetic poles at both ends of the magnetic body 8 are reversed by applying a magnetic field along the optical axis to the movable bare optical fiber 9, the movable bare optical fiber 9 is attracted to the other permanent magnet 11 side and optically coupled to the other stationary bare optical fiber 1. . Even in a state where no current is supplied, the magnetic body 8 is magnetically attracted to the permanent magnet 11, so that the magnetic body 8 can maintain the coupled state with one of the stationary bare optical fibers 1,
A self-holding switching operation can be obtained.

[0005]

In the optical switch, a gap of several tens of μm is provided between the end faces of the two stationary bare optical fibers 1 and the movable bare optical fiber 9. In the conventional optical switch, since the end faces of the respective optical fibers are arranged in the space, there are the following problems.

It has been difficult to obtain low insertion loss and low reflection characteristics. The movable bare optical fiber 9 after reversing the magnetic pole
Chattering occurs due to the influence of the magnet attraction during optical coupling between the optical fiber and the stationary bare optical fiber 1. For this reason, the time until the optical paths are completely coupled and the insertion loss is stabilized is 5 to 10 hours.
ms, and there is a problem that the mechanical strength such as impact and vibration is weak and the reliability is reduced.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a means for filling the inside of the optical switch with a refractive index matching liquid in order to solve such a conventional problem, thereby enabling the filling of the refractive index matching liquid. Thus, an optical switch with high performance and high reliability is obtained.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a hollow solenoid coil tube 20 having a hollow solenoid coil 10 on its outer periphery, and a cylindrical sleeve 1
2 and the cylindrical tube 7 to which the movable bare optical fiber 9 is fixed, the joint portion between the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the half cylinder 3, the joint portion between the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the hollow solenoid coil tube 20, and the split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12. Sealing adhesive 1 throughout
5 was applied. Furthermore, it is deeper than the V-shaped groove 5 of the half cylinder 3,
A sealing groove 6 is provided which is perpendicular to the V-shaped groove 5, and the sealing adhesive 1
5 was applied to prevent the refractive index matching liquid from flowing out. Further, a small-diameter pipe having the same size as the split width of the split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12 for preventing the rotation of the solenoid coil tube 20 and filling the refractive index matching liquid was used for the hollow solenoid coil tube 20. The injection pipe 13 was installed vertically on the same line as the lead portion of the coil lead wire 16.

[0009]

In the optical switch constructed as described above, the inside of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is completely sealed by applying the sealing adhesive 15, so that the refractive index matching liquid can be filled. In addition, since the sealing adhesive 15 is applied to the flat groove 6 of the half cylinder 3 that is perpendicular to the V-shaped groove 5, it is possible to prevent the refractive index matching liquid from flowing out from the flat surface joining surface of the half cylinder 3. At the same time, it is possible to prevent the refractive index matching liquid from entering the inside of the stationary core optical fiber 2. In addition, the hollow solenoid coil tube 2
0, the hollow solenoid coil tube 2 is provided by an injection pipe 13 installed on the same line as the unwinding portion of the coil lead wire 16.
0 is guided at the time of insertion into the cylindrical sleeve 12 and rotation after insertion can be prevented, so that the coil lead wire 16 pulled out for the electrode does not break. In addition, injection pipe 1
3 is also vertically fixed to the hollow solenoid coil tube 10,
Since it protrudes long, the hollow portion of the solenoid coil can be sufficiently filled without the refractive index matching liquid adhering to the optical switch body.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, a cylindrical tube 7 having a movable bare optical fiber 9 fixed in a cylindrical sleeve 12, a hollow solenoid coil tube 20 having an injection pipe 13, and a half cylinder 3 are aligned and held. The injection pipe 13 provided in the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 is inserted into the guide of the split portion 14 provided in the cylindrical sleeve 12 to prevent the rotation of the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 and has a predetermined length. It is protruding. Further, the half-column 3 is provided with a groove 6 on the outer side of the end face of the cylindrical sleeve 12 so that the sealing adhesive 15 can be easily applied, and is aligned and held.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment in which a sealing adhesive 15 is applied to the joints and the outer periphery of the joints of the respective components held and aligned. The sealing adhesive 15 is the split part 1 of the cylindrical sleeve 12.
4 Apply uniformly over the entire area. The coating is evenly applied to the joint between the cylindrical tube 7 and the cylindrical sleeve 12, the outer periphery of the joint between the half cylinder 3 and the cylindrical sleeve 12, and also to the joint between the cylindrical sleeve 12 and the hollow solenoid coil tube 20. In addition, half cylinder 3
The flat portion bonding surface is provided with a flat groove 6 which is perpendicular to the V-shaped groove 5 provided on the side of the half-column 3 on which the stationary bare optical fiber is held, and is deeper than the V-shaped groove 5. The adhesive 15 is applied. The sealing adhesive 15 is also applied to the mating portion 21 of the half cylinder. In this way, the sealing is completely completed except for the injection port 13.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an example of the refractive index matching liquid damming structure of the groove 6 provided in the half cylinder 3. In FIG. 3A, the stationary bare optical fiber 1 has a V-shaped groove 5.
And it is restricted by the shape of the swirling portion 4 and is fixed by bonding. In order to prevent the refractive index matching agent from penetrating into the portion of the stationary core optical fiber 2, the sealing adhesive 15 completely covers a part of the stationary bare optical fiber 1, and the joint end face of the flat portion of the half cylinder 3 The groove 6 is provided so that the sealing adhesive 15 can be easily applied thereto, and the groove 6 is disposed outside the end of the cylindrical sleeve 12 and held. FIG. 3B is an assembled top view of the refractive index matching liquid dam structure.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) show an example of the shape and attachment of a refractive index matching liquid injection pipe 13 which also serves to prevent rotation of the hollow solenoid coil tube 20. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and FIG.
(B) is a sectional view in the direction parallel to the axis. An injection pipe 13 using a small-diameter pipe is fixed on the same line as the unwound portion of the coil lead wire 16 of the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 and perpendicular to the axial direction of the hollow solenoid coil tube 20, and the split portion 14 of the cylindrical sleeve 12 is fixed. Is inserted in the guide. With this structure, the hollow solenoid coil tube 20 can be easily inserted into the cylindrical sleeve 12 without rotating, and the unwinding portion of the coil lead wire 16 is protected. As described above, the sealing structure of the optical switch is formed.

[0014]

As described above, according to the present invention, a sealing adhesive is applied to the joint between the cylindrical sleeve and the cylindrical tube to which the movable bare optical fiber is fixed and the joint between the half cylinders to match the refractive index. A leak groove is provided on the side where the stationary bare optical fiber of the half-cylindrical column is held so as to prevent the liquid from flowing out. A structure that prevents the liquid from flowing out, and a structure in which the hollow solenoid coil tube is equipped with an injection pipe for filling the refractive index matching liquid, enables the filling of the refractive index matching liquid, thus enabling high performance. Optical characteristics can be obtained. In addition, by filling the refractive index matching liquid, the refractive index matching liquid can be used as a shock absorber to provide an optical switch having high mechanical strength and high reliability. Further, since the injection port provided vertically to the hollow solenoid coil tube also serves to prevent the rotation of the hollow solenoid coil tube, there is also an effect of preventing disconnection of the coil lead wire and improving the production yield.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing the structure of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a sealing adhesive application portion according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view and an assembly view showing a refractive index matching liquid damming structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a refractive index matching liquid injection structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of the structure of a conventional optical switch.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 stationary bare optical fiber 2 stationary core optical fiber 3 half cylinder 4 scooping part 5 V-shaped groove 6 scooping groove 7 cylindrical tube 8 magnetic body 9 movable bare optical fiber 11 permanent magnet 12 cylindrical sleeve 13 injection pipe 14 split part 15 sealing Stop adhesive 16 Coil lead wire 20 Hollow solenoid coil tube

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A movable bare optical fiber having a base fixed to a first cylindrical tube in a cantilever shape and a magnetic material fixed to the vicinity of the tip thereof, and provided so as to surround the magnetic material. A second cylindrical tube having a hollow solenoid coil wound on a side surface thereof; permanent magnets arranged in parallel with the magnetic body at equal intervals as opposite magnets; and a V-shaped member formed on a flat portion of a half cylinder. One or two stationary bare optical fibers fixed on the groove, and a cylindrical sleeve that aligns and holds the first cylindrical tube, the second cylindrical tube, and the half cylinder, and has the permanent magnet fixed to the side surface. A mechanical optical switch that performs a self-holding switch operation in which the tip of the movable bare optical fiber and the tip of the stationary bare optical fiber face each other on the V-shaped groove, wherein the movable bare optical fiber inside the optical switch is provided. The tip and the tip of the stationary bare optical fiber face each other Optical switch refractive index matching liquid into minute characterized in that it is filled. 2. A groove for applying a sealant for blocking outflow of a refractive index matching liquid to a part of a portion of the half cylinder to which the stationary bare optical fiber is fixed is perpendicular to the V-shaped groove. The optical switch according to claim 1, wherein the optical switch is provided. 3. An optical switch according to claim 1, wherein said hollow solenoid coil tube is provided with a pipe for injecting a refractive index matching liquid which also serves to prevent rotation of said solenoid coil.